International Journal of Advances in Social Sciences

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Strengthening Right to Food for Children through MDMS


Affiliations
1 Department of Sociology, Ramnagar College of Vidyasagar University, Midnapore (East)-721453, West Bengal, India
     

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The right to food is a human right. India has been self sufficient in food production since seventies. In September 2013, the Indian Government passed the National Food Security Act, more popularly known as the Right to Food bill. This bill aims to provide subsidized food grains to 800 million Indians, roughly two thirds of India’s population. Mid Day Meal in Schools (MDMS) is a flagship programme of the Government of India aiming at improving nutritional levels among children studying in Government and Government-aided primary and upper primary schools. Food system prioritizes nutrition and it brings into focus the linkages between food, nutrition and health. MDMS is working as right to food for children to provide for each school child roughly one third of the daily nutrient requirement in the form of a hot fresh cooked meal. As prioritizing nutrition in this food system, this study try to assess to what extent MDMS is executing to provide supplementary nutrition for growing children. This study took the primary data collected through simple random sampling method from rural set up. Field voice reports that MDMS is acting successfully as child’s right to food in providing regular one time cooked food for children. Also the study reveals the poor nutritional status of school children receiving cookedmid day meal per day in rural scenario.

Keywords

Right to Food, Nutrition, Children, MDMS.
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  • Strengthening Right to Food for Children through MDMS

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Authors

Barnali Maity
Department of Sociology, Ramnagar College of Vidyasagar University, Midnapore (East)-721453, West Bengal, India

Abstract


The right to food is a human right. India has been self sufficient in food production since seventies. In September 2013, the Indian Government passed the National Food Security Act, more popularly known as the Right to Food bill. This bill aims to provide subsidized food grains to 800 million Indians, roughly two thirds of India’s population. Mid Day Meal in Schools (MDMS) is a flagship programme of the Government of India aiming at improving nutritional levels among children studying in Government and Government-aided primary and upper primary schools. Food system prioritizes nutrition and it brings into focus the linkages between food, nutrition and health. MDMS is working as right to food for children to provide for each school child roughly one third of the daily nutrient requirement in the form of a hot fresh cooked meal. As prioritizing nutrition in this food system, this study try to assess to what extent MDMS is executing to provide supplementary nutrition for growing children. This study took the primary data collected through simple random sampling method from rural set up. Field voice reports that MDMS is acting successfully as child’s right to food in providing regular one time cooked food for children. Also the study reveals the poor nutritional status of school children receiving cookedmid day meal per day in rural scenario.

Keywords


Right to Food, Nutrition, Children, MDMS.

References